Members Visit Poland in 2024 International Tour

By: Linda Nguyen Skoglund, NARSA/IDEA Communications Director



NARSA Members got to learn about the history and culture of Poland in addition to visiting 3 different facilities as part of the 2024 International Tour. From September 14 to 20, the group of 29 individuals visited 3 companies: BSPL, Valeo, and NARSA member SECO/WARWICK. 

Members came to Poland from all over the world. Among the countries represented included the United States, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, China, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Finland, and Poland.

The International Tour was an idea started by NARSA Board Member Bobby Duran in 2017. The first trip was to Industria CORE in the Dominican Republic. Then, the group visited NRF and Aurubis in the Netherlands in 2018. In 2019, the International Tour was hosted by PHAR in Mexico. In 2022, the group went to the United Kingdom to visit Advanced Radiator and G & M. The last trip in 2023 was in the Middle East and included visits to Siyam, Dolphin, and Serck. 

“The idea started because I saw the title of ‘International Heat Transfer Association,’ and the reality was, up until 7 years ago, we only ever did anything in North America and Canada,” said Bobby Duran. “I felt that to truly call ourselves an international association, we needed to do something with a bigger footprint. We needed to appeal to people across the world, so our members can get value. I also wanted our distributors and vendors to get value out of our organization, so we can be relevant going into the 21st century.”



Nicknamed the “100%-ers,” only a handful of members have been on every single International Tour: Aaron Morrow of Johnson Manufacturing, Ron and Donna Dowler of Southwest Radiator, and Bobby Duran of Cooling Systems Caribe.

“Why did I decide to come on this trip? I’m one of the few 100%-ers,” said Bobby Duran. “I’ve been to every NARSA International Tour from the beginning, from its initial idea and inception to now. I love the camaraderie. I love learning new cultures, learning about a new country, and more than anything, I love learning about the businesses and the people that come on these trips.”

The majority of the group had never been to Poland before this trip. Although Dolphin hosted the International Tour last year in Dubai, this was the first time Abdull Nooruddin and Mani Radhakrishnan of Dolphin had been guests on the trip. They were familiar with BSPL, but this was their first visit to their facility in Swakina, which is about 30 minutes outside of Krakow.

“As the world shifts towards electric vehicles, it was fascinating to see how BSPL has developed new Battery Thermal Management Systems (BTMS) for EVs and integrated AI into their products,” said Abdull Nooruddin, Sales Director at Dolphin Manufacturing. “Their facility was efficiently organized, reflecting the high standards they operate with. We also got a chance to see their testing facility and their wind tunnel which was equally impressive. It was both a great learning experience and refreshing to see their focus shift toward EVs and the innovative solutions they’ve come up with.”

The two that traveled the furthest distance were siblings Luis Pedro Cardenas and Anali Cardenas of Radiadores La Torre based in Guatemala. 

“I think Europe is more developed in the research of our industry, so this was a great experience to see what’s going on and the future of the radiator industry technology,” said Luis Pedro Cardenas. “I have known about NARSA since I was kid, because my father was involved with NARSA years ago. Then two years ago, a colleague from NARSA, Rafael Taveras from Industria CORE in Dominican Republic and Alejandra Ossa from Radiadores Panama told me about the International Tour. So from the second generation of our company, it’s been really beneficial learning from everyone, and it’s having colleagues, friends, and we’re all here to help each other.”

This was also Nathan Ingrao’s first time on a NARSA International Tour. “We all came here kind of like strangers, especially for me. I didn’t know these people, but by the end of the day, we are all giving hugs. We are all exchanging information. It’s been an evolution from Day to Day 7. It’s been a great opportunity to meet people in our industry, to learn more about their companies, the companies we’ve visited, and really just build on the networking aspect that NARSA really brings.”

“In the course of the few days that we have been here, I met new members who I hadn’t gotten a chance to really get to know before and make those connections,” said Aaron Morrow of Johnson Manufacturing. “I know now that I could reach out with an email or a text or phone call, and they would be there to answer my questions or help me out. I’m heading home with a chance at some new business after some discussions that we had over the course of the week. We talked about different solders and fluxes and opportunities that we have coming up.”

The second company tour was at Valeo’s factory in Swakina, Poland. The state-of-the-art plant designs and manufactures the latest generation of innovative Thermal Systems. 

Like most of the NARSA group, Bob Carlo of Voss Manufacturing was blown away by the automotion. 

“Valeo is building 33,000 units a day,” said Bob Carlo. “We got to see the fin machines for the heat exchangers running. Those fins go into the core builders, and you get a finished core in just a few minutes. We got to see the whole production line as a core got built and went through the CAB systems. The assembly of the plastic tanks was also unique. Every single tank went through a check and balance to ensure the quality of their cores, so the machines checked a part number, before it allowed the part operator to put it on the core.”

“At Valeo, the level of automation and organization was truly remarkable,” said Walid Siyam of Siyam Radiators. “Their operations are highly efficient, with everything in its proper place. The quality control processes were particularly impressive, featuring near-zero human error.”

The two representatives from Dolphin Manufacturing were also impressed with Valeo. “Valeo was a true highlight for manufacturers,” said Abdull Nooruddin of Dolphin. “Getting a chance to witness a fully operational OEM production line is unforgettable. We saw their automated core assemblers linked to fin mills, huge brazing furnaces, and tube mills—it was all incredibly impressive. The Valeo team was very supportive, sharing their insights and answering our questions. We left with many valuable lessons that we look forward to integrating into our own production lines.”

For Sep Saebnia of Cool Heat Truck Parts based in Canada, this trip was about learning about new technologies. “This is my first time on the International Tour,” said Saebnia. “The reason why I decided to go is because I really wanted to know all the newest technology that's coming into this market. I really learned a lot from Valeo including how the market has changed from radiators and involves Electric Vehicles.”

Walid Siyam of Siyam Radiators in Jordan came to Poland with his father Ibrahim and his brother Yazan. Like Dolphin, they hosted when the International Tour came to Jordan in 2023, but this was their first trip as guest members. “The primary reason for attending the International tour in Poland was to visit BSPL and Valeo to explore their capabilities and factories,” said Walid Siyam. “We wanted to learn from their production processes and gain insights that could help us set new standards and goals, which would enable us to advance our operations and foster further growth.”

“It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with the NARSA community,” said Walid Siyam. “We were already familiar with many attendees through previous experiences and acquaintances. It was also great that we did the tour as a family, which allowed us to exchange ideas in a relaxed setting away from the factory. We truly appreciate the sense of community that NARSA fosters within the cooling industry, and we are incredibly grateful for the efforts that you and the team put into organizing such trips. We definitely plan to be more involved in future tours!”

On Wednesday, September 18, the group left Krakow via charter bus to head up north about 440 kilometers. Members stayed at the Ruben Hotel in Zielona Góra, which is known for its vineyards and winemaking. 

On Thursday, the group hit the third and final stop on the International Tour in Poland at SECO/WARWICK in Świebodzin, about 30 minutes from Zielona Gora. 

“We’ve been NARSA members for many years, especially our US company,” said Piotr Skarbiński of SECO/Warwick. “NARSA collects all of our potential customers in the area of brazing, so when the opportunity to host NARSA in our facility came, we were very lucky. We agreed immediately.”

SECO/WARWICK has a presence across the world with 3 locations in the United States as well as branches in Germany, China, India, and Mexico. Its headquarters is in Poland, where they manufacture all types of equipment including furnaces and brazing technology. NARSA members also learned about the various industries SECO/WARWICK products are used in like 3D printing, aviation, electric cars, aviation, defense, and space. 

“Taking the tour of SECO/WARWICK was a lot of fun,” said Bryan Braswell of Rocky Mount Radiator. “I got a look into a world of furnace building that I hadn’t seen before or dove into. And I got to understand that there’s a bigger world out there that small radiator shops might not know about. It was very eye-opening for someone like me.”

“Being involved with NARSA, we can present and promote our equipment, and then we increase our sales,” said Piotr Skarbiński. “I would like to thank everyone for coming and the opportunity to present our products. We hope you enjoyed your visit here in Poland, and we hope for future cooperation.”

In addition to touring SECO/WARWICK’s factory, the group also learned about the company’s footprint through presentations. There was also a presentation by a representative from SOLVAY about Controlled Atmosphere Furnace Brazing of Aluminium Alloys. 

In addition to the company visits, NARSA members also got to experience Polish culture through different restaurants, excursions, and history tours. The group stayed at Hotel Stary, which is a 5-star hotel located in the center of Krakow’s Old Town or Rynek Glówny in Polish. The main square dates back to the 13th century and is considered one of the oldest medieval squares in Europe. It’s surrounded by historic townhouses, an 11th century church and St. Mary’s Basilica, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“As soon as we heard that NARSA was taking an International Trip to Poland, we definitely wanted to come because of the history of Poland of course,” said Donna Dowler of Southwest Radiator. “We’re also always interested in interacting with fellow shop owners and manufacturers from all over the world.”

Before the factory tours started, the group visited Auschwitz-Birkenau, the site of the former German Nazi concentration camp and extermination center. Located about an hour outside of Krakow, more than 1.1 million men, women, and children lost their lives here. The group’s guide was Tomasz Cebulsk, an expert in Jewish genealogy and history. He has several degrees including a PhD in Political Relations. In addition to being a tour guide, he also reconnects families of Holocaust victims all over Europe. 

“There’s a lot a fella can learn from this country,” said Ron Dowler. “NARSA’s been around for 70 years, and I’ve been part of it since 1976. It's not just what you’re learning from the industry side, Being able to come here to Poland, to go to Auschwitz, and learn more about what really happened. I’ll be honest, of all the trips that we’ve had, this might be the biggest eye opener for me.”

“Travel is the best educator,” said Donna Dowler. “You meet people, and you experience the lives of other people. The experience through travel with other people in this industry is also valuable, because we all kind of come from the same background, and we experience things all over the world. We’ve been to 6 places so far, and we feel very blessed that we can still travel. NARSA gives us an opportunity to see the world as we’re learning and gaining knowledge.”

Another excursion was a trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mine in Krakow, which is a Polish Historic Monument and UNESCO Heritage Site. The group descended 800 stairs and walked through numerous passageways and viewed some of the salt-mining technology as well as sculptures made out of rock salt. The Wieliczka Salt Mine reaches a depth of 327 meters (1,073 ft), and extends via horizontal passages and chambers for more than 287 kilometers (178 miles). NARSA members only saw a small percentage of the actual mine.

One of the other tours was a tour of Oskar Schindler’s Factory and WWII museum in Krakow. The group had a tour of the former site of the enamel factory and learned about the German industrialist who inspired the 1993 film “Schindler’s List.”

Another highlight of the trip was experiencing Polish food. The group visited several different restaurants that ranged from traditional Polish cuisine to Italian to fine dining. Among the dishes include pierogi, cabbage rolls, pork ribs, breaded pork cutlets, herring, and szarlotka, which is a Polish apple pie.

Some NARSA members also enjoyed a wine tasting in Zielona Gora courtesy of SECO/WARWICK. After the tasting, the group explored the city center and discovered various statues of the deity Bacchus. 

Developing relationships within NARSA was a major motivation for coming to Poland for both Gerardo Andrade and Gerardo Quiñones of PHAR Radiators, which is a manufacturer based in Mexico. 

“It’s very important for us to have relationships in NARSA, because we network with other companies that are members,” said Gerardo Andrade. “NARSA is a great association. NARSA gave us the opportunity to tell our customers what we are doing and also to visit different kinds of plants.”

Canadians Wayne Feeleus and his wife Tonia of West End Radiator were also among the attendees. Their primary interest in going on this trip was the chance to make new connections.

“Right from when our family bought West End Radiator, we had to network with others to find new opportunities,” said Wayne Feeleus. “Had we not networked with people that we had all the way along from 1980 until today, we certainly wouldn’t be in the position that we are in. We continue to learn along the way and meet new people. NARSA has really given us the opportunity to learn, visit other plants, and network with others. That’s really where the value of NARSA is for us.”

“The main reason I wanted to come here is the networking,” said Brian Cahill of DRC Heat Transfer based in Illinois. “I really appreciate the one-on-one time you have with traveling from facilities and touring facilities. We get to talk to our suppliers and customers as well as potential new suppliers. It’s a way to interact in a way you don’t normally get to do business back at home.”

Dave Dries and Juho Partanen of ARZON were also among the attendees. Partanen may be the only NARSA member from Finland. 

“This is my first NARSA International Trip,” said Juho Partanen. “I’ve had many experiences with NARSA at AAPEX. The first reason I decided to come was for networking. Secondly, I’m located in Europe, so this was convenient. Thirdly, the program was extremely well-designed. It was a combination of culture and industry activities.”

“It’s absolutely valuable to get together with your suppliers and your customers and really hear the truth about what’s going on in the industry, the demand that’s actually out there,” said Dave Dries of ARZON. “I get asked, ‘Why do you travel so much? With technology today, you could have a Zoom meeting and stay in the office. You could get the same experience.’ That’s absolutely not true. To get the insight we get here, the information that everybody shares back and forth and just builds on, that’s something that’s very important to us. From my point of view, if you get the opportunity to be a part of NARSA and expand your network and get feedback from your competitors whether they’re OE or Aftermarket, the value you’re getting is insight that you wouldn’t have access to otherwise.”

This was also the first International Tour for Harry Hu and his wife Reiko of Wuxi Heat Exchanger in China. “When I got the email announcement from NARSA, I immediately talked to my wife about this trip,” said Harry Hu. “We were very excited about it, because of the tourism. Our company is located in China, so we don’t have a lot of opportunities to talk with other members of NARSA. So we usually only see them once a year at AAPEX, so we sometimes only have one or two hours to talk to them at the Member Appreciation Reception. But when I saw the international trip, I knew it would be a very good opportunity to spend more time with NARSA members by eating dinner with them, having good times with them, and you experience another country’s culture with them.”

When it comes to the International Tour, NARSA’s President Bryan Braswell believes this unique experience is a true example of NARSA’s mission of One Idea, One Opportunity, and One Connection. “The International Tour was important to me, because not only do different companies within our association and our industry have the support of board members within NARSA and President and Chairman of NARSA, but to take things back to our company,” said Braswell. “We learn a lot of things from big companies, medium companies, and small companies. Each one has something to offer for even a shop like ours.”

“As good as the tours are of the companies, by far, the best part is the conversations you have over breakfast or dinner or karaoke,” said Bobby Duran. “Those are really where it happens. The tours bring us here, they bring us together, but to me, the relationships that are formed are truly where the values are.”



You can see more photos in the 2024 September/October issue of the Cooling Journal here.